Though available year-round, these summer favorites are most tender and flavorful during peak season. String beans, as they're also known, are best harvested before the inner beans are fully formed, so you can serve them raw in salads or as part of a veggie platter. When it comes to cooking, quickly blanching the beans (followed by a quick dunk in ice water to keep the color vibrant) is your best bet.

Peak Season: May to September

How to select: Look for slender, bright green beans that snap easily when bent. Avoid if the inner beans appear very large in their pods (a sign of too-late harvesting).

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Price range: $2 to $4 per pound

Keep it fresh: Store in a plastic bag in the refrigerator up to 1 week. Wash just before using.